Police listened. Spanish bolita is a country located on the eastern coast of Central America. Belize is bordered on the northwest by Mexico, on the east by the Caribbean Sea, and on the south and west by Guatemala. It has an area of 22,800 square kilometers (8,800 square miles) and a population of 387,879 (2017). Its main land is about 290 kilometers (180 miles) long and 110 kilometers (68 miles) wide. It has the lowest population and population density in Central America. The country's population growth rate of 1.87% per year (2015) is the second highest in the region and one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere. The Mayan civilization spread into the area of Belize between 1500 BC and 300 AD and flourished until about 1200. European exploration campaigns began in 1502 when Christopher Columbus sailed along the Gulf of Honduras. European settlement began by English settlers in 1638. This period was also marked by Spain and Britain laying claim to the land until Britain defeated the Spanish in the Battle of st. George's Key in 1798. It became a British colony in 1840 known as British Honduras and a crown colony in 1862. Independence was achieved from the United Kingdom on the 21st of September 1981. Belize has a diverse society composed of many cultures and languages that reflect its rich history. English is the official language of Belize, while Belizean Creole is an unofficial native language. Over half the population is multilingual, with Spanish being the second most commonly spoken language. It is known for its September celebrations, its extensive Barrier Reef coral reefs, and Punta Music. Belize's abundance of terrestrial and marine species and its diversity of ecosystems give it a key place in the globally significant Mesoamerican biological corridor. It is considered a Central American...